Rotary Drive Accumulator for Sheet Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet stacking devices have complex accumulator designs that are costly to manufacture and lack accuracy in velocity and position control, due to the need for converting linear motion to rotary motion and back, which increases material and labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A sheet stacking device with a support frame and conveyor featuring a rotary actuator-driven accumulator system using elongate fingers with gear racks and pinion gears, allowing precise control through a stepper motor for extending and retracting fingers to manage sheet accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional accumulator designs with air cylinders and gear racks are used, then the accumulator can operate, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex air cylinder and gear rack mechanism from the accumulator design. Instead of using conventional linear-to rotary motion conversion mechanisms, the invention uses a simplified rotary actuator that directly drives the accumulator fingers through a single gear engagement, removing unnecessary mechanical complexity and reducing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional pneumatic (air cylinder) and complex mechanical gear system with a simplified rotary actuator mechanism. This substitution reduces the number of moving parts, eliminates the need for perpendicular rod arrangements and multiple gear racks, and simplifies the overall mechanical system while maintaining accumulator functionality
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional accumulator designs with multiple gear racks and pinion gears are used, then the accumulator can extend and retract fingers, but the manufacturing precision and velocity control accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex multi-gear rack and pinion gear system from the accumulator mechanism. By using a single gear engagement between the rotary actuator and the finger mechanism, the design eliminates the need for multiple gear racks and pinion gears, thereby simplifying the system while improving velocity and position control accuracy through reduced mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using conventional linear motion conversion mechanisms (air cylinder with perpendicular rod), the patent inverts the approach by using a rotary actuator that directly provides rotational motion to the accumulator fingers through a single gear engagement. This inversion simplifies the mechanism and improves control precision by eliminating the need for complex motion conversion
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides accurate and repeatable velocity and position control, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while enhancing the accuracy of sheet stacking operations.
Implementation Method 1
A rotary actuator is operably connected to the drive shaft, the rotary actuator rotating the drive shaft
Implementation Method 2
a gear having teeth is mounted on the drive shaft with at least one of the gear teeth projecting into a space between adjacent ones of the rack teeth
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the plurality of elongate fingers includes a rack having teeth along a first side
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet stacking device includes a support frame, a conveyor and an accumulator at a discharge end of the conveyor, the accumulator having a plurality of elongate fingers, at least one of which includes a rack having teeth along a first side, a rotatable drive shaft extending in a width direction of the conveyor, a gear having teeth mounted on the drive shaft and operatively engaging the rack teeth, and a rotary actuator operably connected to the drive shaft, the rotary actuator rotating said drive shaft in a first and second directions to move an end of the elongate fingers toward and away from the conveyor discharge end of the conveyor. Also a method of operating the device.